Mushitags

Nintendo has officially released the highly anticipated ground-up remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo Switch 2, with international critical reviews landing at an overwhelmingly positive 96 aggregate score on Metacritic and OpenCritic. Arriving alongside top-tier marks from major outlets—including a 10/10 from IGN and Eurogamer's 'Essential' recommendation—the release represents both a major technical showcase for the platform and a benchmark in faithful heritage preservation. Rather than altering the foundational progression into a sprawling open-world format in the vein of Breath of the Wild, Nintendo EPD opted to leave the 1998 blueprint fundamentally intact. The geometry of Hyrule Field, classic dungeon navigation, and puzzle layouts remain faithful to the original Nintendo 64 release. However, the visual presentation has been thoroughly reimagined, introducing modern dynamic global illumination, dense interactive foliage, cinematic depth-of-field, and refined character models that preserve the melancholic, atmospheric tone of the original aesthetic. The audio and quality-of-life updates have drawn particular praise across early coverage. The iconic soundtrack originally composed by Koji Kondo has been re-recorded with a lush orchestral ensemble, featuring dynamic transitions between exploration and combat. Controls have been completely updated for the Switch 2 controller layout, resolving historic navigation friction with modern free-camera controls, dedicated boots and item quick-swap shortcuts, and subtle navigational cues that modernize notorious puzzle bottlenecks like the Water Temple without sacrificing their intricate design. Critical assessments note very few drawbacks, though several reviews pointed out that the omission of Master Quest mirrored content at launch is a missed opportunity, and that longtime veterans who thoroughly mastered the N64 or 3DS versions will find few surprises in the dungeon solutions. Nevertheless, critics largely agree that the remake stands as the definitive way to experience one of the medium's defining masterworks, positioning it as an indispensable system-seller heading into the holiday shopping period. ~Gaming ~Zelda ~Nintendo ~Switch2

Nintendo has posted its financial results for the first half of fiscal year 2026–2027, painting a picture of robust profitability driven by digital software and multimedia IP, even as hardware sales naturally cool following the initial record-breaking launch wave of the Nintendo Switch 2. Operating profit climbed nearly 50% year-on-year to 216.5 billion yen ($1.4 billion), while net profit rose 11% to 220.9 billion yen. Despite total revenue contracting 12.1% to 966 billion yen, higher-margin digital sales and strong licensing returns—anchored by the theatrical success of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie—substantially cushioned bottom-line performance. On the hardware front, Nintendo shipped 6.49 million Switch 2 units during the six-month period, bringing cumulative lifetime sales of the successor console to 26.35 million units worldwide. Second-quarter shipments of 2.67 million units reflected a 41% decrease compared to the console's extraordinary initial launch surge, aligning with typical seasonal patterns following an unprecedented release cycle. Nintendo reaffirmed its full-year hardware target of 16.5 million units, expressing confidence in the platform's trajectory heading into the crucial year-end holiday quarter. Addressing industry concerns surrounding escalating memory component costs and semiconductor supply chain pressures—often dubbed the broader hardware "RAMpocalypse"—Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa confirmed that the company has secured sufficient component allocations to meet its production targets through the end of the fiscal year. Crucially for consumers, Furukawa stated that Nintendo is not considering additional retail price increases for the Switch 2, following regional adjustments earlier in the year. The company's software strategy remains heavily frontloaded for the holidays. The full-scale remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has launched to near-unanimous critical acclaim, serving as a primary system-seller for prospective buyers. Additionally, Nintendo recently unveiled Pikmin Day and the upcoming release of Pikmin 4 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, which introduces enhanced Dandori modes and microphone-enabled companion mechanics. With major 2027 tentpoles already slated—including Metroid Ravenous and a new Monolith Soft RPG—Nintendo appears well-positioned to maintain steady ecosystem engagement. ~Gaming ~Nintendo ~Switch2

Ratatan’s first Nintendo Switch 2 reviews are out ahead of release, and they disagree on how polished the rhythm roguelike feels. That matters if you are deciding whether to preorder: the game has a strong musical combat loop, but one reviewer reports a noticeable stutter on Nintendo’s console. Pocket Tactics awarded the Switch 2 version 7/10. Reviewer Daz Skubich praised the soundtrack, colorful cast and build variety, but reported a severe hitch when a shop appeared before the first boss, along with visual glitches, tiny text and a tutorial that leaves some systems tucked away in the Help menu. [CGMagazine’s review](https://www.cgmagonline.com/review/game/ratatan-nintendo-switch-2/) was much more enthusiastic at 9/10: it liked the faster, freely controlled roguelike combat and described the docked image as crisp, while noting some pixelation on characters in handheld mode. These are two reviewers’ experiences, not a controlled performance comparison; neither establishes how common the stutter is or whether a day-one update will change it. The standard edition is listed at $34.99, with the publisher advertising a 10% preorder price of $31.49. The developer says the preorder offer runs until the official release; its [preorder announcement](https://store.steampowered.com/news/posts/?enddate=1789442267&feed=steam_community_announcements) also says Version 1.0 adds Episodes 3 and 4, the final world and boss, and an orchestral recording of the soundtrack. [Nintendo’s US store listing](https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/ratatan-switch-2/) gives October 14 for Switch 2, while the publisher’s announcement gives October 15 for Version 1.0. Check your local store for the platform-specific release time. Ratatan combines beat-timed commands with direct movement and randomized roguelike runs, and Nintendo lists online co-op for up to four players. If you want that Patapon-like rhythm strategy, the reviews suggest the core loop is landing; if performance or readable handheld text is a priority, waiting for launch updates and more player reports is the safer call. Screenshot: Nintendo’s official Ratatan store listing; game © Ratata Arts. ~Gaming ~Nintendo ~Switch2 

Nintendo will release a Japan-only Nintendo Switch 2 bundle on November 12 for ¥63,980 (about $403), including a download code for one game chosen from three options. At Japan’s current recommended price of ¥59,980 (about $378) for the console on its own, the bundle adds ¥4,000 (about $25) for the game code. Dollar equivalents use the October 12 USD/JPY rate and are approximate; they are not U.S. retail prices. Buyers can choose Mario Kart World or Nintendo Switch Sports Resort for Switch 2, or Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream for the original Switch. That last option makes this a choice across two generations, rather than three Switch 2 games. Nintendo says the code must be redeemed by March 31, 2027, and downloading requires a Nintendo Account and internet access. [Nintendo’s announcement](https://www.nintendo.co.jp/corporate/release/en/2026/261006.html) lists the full package contents. The regional limitation matters as much as the price. Nintendo’s Japanese-Language System (Japan Only) supports Japanese as its system language, and only accounts set to Japan can be linked. That makes the bundle a poor fit for international buyers looking for a lower-cost way into Switch 2. [Nintendo’s system information](https://www.nintendo.com/jp/en/hardware/switch2/lineup/index.html) spells out those restrictions. The Japanese console’s recommended price rose from ¥49,980 (about $315) to ¥59,980 (about $378) on May 25. The new package adds one game choice for ¥4,000 (about $25) over the current hardware price. [Gematsu reported the bundle announcement](https://www.gematsu.com/2026/10/switch-2-japanese-language-system-choose-your-game-bundle-launches-november-12-in-japan), while [Nintendo’s price notice](https://www.nintendo.co.jp/corporate/release/en/2026/260508.html) documents the increase. The dollar equivalents use the [October 12 USD/JPY rate](https://www.investing.com/currencies/usd-jpy-historical-data). ~Nintendo ~Switch2

https://youtu.be/1MmxjAZws9Q Dragon’s Dogma 2 runs surprisingly well on Switch 2 Looks like Capcom did a really good job with this port. Performance seems pretty solid, especially considering how demanding this game is. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting it to run this well on Switch 2 ~switch2 ~dragonsdogma2